Duchess of Kent Hospice

Duchess of Kent Hospice

Sue Ryder offers a range of services in Berkshire from three sites: Duchess of Kent Hospice, Wokingham Day Hospice and Sue Ryder Palliative Care Hub Berkshire.

From the Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading and our satellite day services in Newbury and Wokingham, we provide expert palliative care and support for people across Berkshire who are living with life-limiting conditions, as well as supporting their families.

Duchess of Kent Hospice in pictures

Through our inpatient hospice we offer round-the-clock assessment and specialist care to help manage patients' symptoms. In addition to our inpatient unit, our day services help people living with long term conditions to avoid unnecessary trips to hospital, as well as offering social opportunities alongside others experiencing similar circumstances. We also offer community services for people who prefer to receive palliative care at home.

Our expert team includes doctors, nurses, care assistants, physiotherapists, occupational and complementary therapists, social workers and bereavement support workers. They all work seamlessly together to support people through the most difficult times of their lives.

Whether somebody is dealing with a terminal illness or the loss of a loved one, we’re there when it matters. Sue Ryder staff and volunteers provide people with the compassion and expert care they need, to help them live the best life they can.

Our services include:

Inpatient care

Day services

Community services

Family and bereavement support

Rehabilitation

Complementary therapies

Spiritual care

Befriending

When you’re terminally ill, you don’t like to talk about sickness all the time to your friends, but with a befriender you can. You have to have things to look forward to. I can’t tell you how much it’s made a difference, knowing that she’s coming tomorrow. I really enjoy her company, we get on like a house on fire, we never stop talking. It’s wonderful.

A patient who attends our Wokingham Day Hospice

Frequently asked questions

What should inpatients bring with them?

On admission to our inpatient unit we suggest you bring the following:

A variety of comfortable, loose fitting day and night clothes

Shoes and slippers - slip on if possible

Personal toiletries and towels

Personal electrical equipment such as laptops, tablets and ipods

Current medication - in its original packaging if possible

Community medical paperwork - this could include district nurse notes, a preferred priorities of care document and advance directives

Ear plugs and/or an eye mask for when you wish to rest

Favourite pictures, photos or albums – we encourage you to personalise your space at the hospice

How can I be referred?

Referrals can come from many sources such as health professionals, the patients themselves or their families. The patient’s GP or hospital consultant will be contacted before a referral is accepted. If additional support is needed, patients can be referred back into our care at any stage after they have been discharged.

What are the visiting times?

There are no restrictions on visiting times for our inpatient unit and it is also sometimes possible for family members to stay overnight with you. This would need to be discussed with the nursing staff in charge first.

There is no charge for this service.

Can pets visit?

Yes, well-behaved pets are very welcome to visit. Please ask a member of the nursing team if you would like to arrange this.

Do I need to bring my own food?

We have an in-house catering team that prepare and cook three meals a day. We have an extensive menu with the aim of encouraging you to eat well. We will always do our best to cater to your individual taste.

Visitors can also pre-order food from the menu and pay at reception and we also have a vending machine.

How much does it cost to use Sue Ryder services?

The services that we provide are free of charge to patients. We rely on the generosity of our supporters to raise funds to cover the majority of our running costs.

If you would like to support through fundraising, please call us on 0118 955 0434 and we would be happy to talk with you about the different ways that you can help.